Maximum PC

Okay, I know, people are always posting stuff about the best pc for a so and so amount of money, but I was wondering what you all had for suggestions when it comes down to building a PC with the most bang for your buck/overclockable hardware. I say this because I'll be working on another build soon and want to try and have a low budget, but still be able to compete with all of those uber-rice PCs. All I do is play First Person Shooters and the occasional RTS/RPG. I also hope other people around the forum will find this thread helpful, sorry if I wasn't specific enough . I don't really know what else to say, thanks.

How low of a budget?

*OCNoob on standby*

I'd like to stay under 2,500, but this is partially hypethetical depending on what's out when I do my build in the spring, so go crazy if you really want to, which would be hard since this is bang for your buck...yet at teh same time easy when it comes ot overclocking... . lol, you know what nevermind that just $2,500 budget, lower is appreciated.

Sheeze... $2,500 for an OC compy? Whatever suits you!

DFI Lanparty UT NF4 Ultra-D $145 (The prices are steadily dropping as Newegg and ZZF are fighting)
A64 3200+ Winchester $190
OCZ EL Platinum Rev. 2 PC-3200 1GB $287
Zalmnan CNPS7000B-Cu $49
Arctic Silver 5 $12.60

Total: $684

Quibbles aside, the DFI NF4 has the most complicated and thorough BIOS for overclocking. The 3200+ gives you a 10x multiplier which is high enough for good stock performance. When lowered, the FSB will be able to reach crazy high speeds. And the OCZ Plat's will let you reach whatever goal you set. Finally, the Zalman cooler combined with AS5 will keep your 'Chester cool and quiet. (Sorry about the commercial )

I'm leaving it hanging from here because you can choose whatever you want. Change this how you want it. Nothing's set in stone.

hell... with 2500 you could mess around with water and make some big leeway

if you guys really think 2500 is alot, then lets turn it down a notch to 1800, just for fun.

How 'bout $1,000?

Sure, that'd be awesome, oh and to be a little bit more specific, I forgot to mention that I'd like a case suggestion too, thanks for all of the (1) posts so far.

I was just kidding there! No chance I could make the $1,000 without cheaping out on the rest.

haha, I though it was too good to be true, back to 1,800 then?

If you wanted me to complete the system:
Sapphire X800XL $354
Enermax Noisetaker 420W $82
T-take Soprano $95
Maxtor DiamondMax 10 $184
NEC ND-3520A $67.50

Total System Cost: $1,467

At least it's under $1500!

then spend 300 bucks on water coolingggggg. come on guys!

Wow, very nice OCNoob, thanks, one question though doesn't the 6800 GT OC better than the XL?

I have no idea, but look at that miniscule heatsink on that card! I bet it runs cool as hell.

throw an NV70 silencer on it and you'll OC that badboy much better tehn with the retail heatsink.

I would, but I know nothing about doing that . But I'm still open for any other suggestions you may have.

Im gonna say this once
When PPL slipstream SSE3 into there code Intel will PWN AMD
=)

Not when AMD's already adopting SSE3.

hey....guess what.....AMD is getting SSE3

but anyway.... the NVSilencer is just as easy to put on as an after market heatsink. Its not something to be afraid of. you just pull the ond cooler off(pull the pins though the board then twist a little and then viola) and then clean it off with some concentrated alcohol and throw some AS5 on it and throw the silncer on and your set. it'll keep you much cooler then before. but if you really dont want to do that still get a nice pci slot fan blower. they make ones that are two slots wide now, so its got some big cooling power.

Do you know is the new Antec Cooler is any good? Because I'd much rather go with something like that as opposed to changed the actual cooler. It could even cool my extremly power hunger constantly overheating audigy 2 ZS.